The following is a press release issued by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Humboldt County Sheriff Mike Downey has issued a precautionary evacuation advisory for the approximately 10 residences in the Swayback Ridge area of the Mt Lassic Wilderness. The Lassic area is located south of Dinsmore. This is an advisory only, due to the Lassic Fire burning approximately two miles south of the area under advisory. The Swayback and Lassic Fires have merged and are now the Lassic Fire. These fires are part of the Mad River Complex, now under the command of Type 1 Incident Management Team 5. For current fire information, see http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4436/.

There are no mandatory evacuation orders in effect in Humboldt County at this time. This is an advisory only, for “voluntary evacuations.”

PREVIOUSLY:

The Humboldt Lightning Complex in the southeastern part of the county was at 30 percent containment on Wednesday morning, according to CalFire.

A total of 3,702 acres have burned.

“After a damage assessment, it was determined that no residence was destroyed. Four outbuildings were destroyed in the Dobbyn Fire. … Active fires range in size from 147 to 1,192 acres. Threat continues to commercial timberland. Much of the timberland is owned by small timberland and rangeland owners, who rely on timber and range revenue for a steady source of income. Fires threaten habitat for threatened and endangered species,” the agency’s incident update states.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a slight chance of thunderstorms in the Blocksburg area Thursday night and Friday. Smoke and haze will continue to impact the area.

An unhealthy air advisory was issued by the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District:

Smoke levels in these area(s) have been classified as Unhealthy and are creating a health hazard. Smoke is being generated by the numerous fires of the Humboldt Complex, Mad River Complex, Rail Fire, River Complex, Fork Complex, and Barker Fire. Smoke will likely settle in nearby canyons, valleys, and basins during the next few days, and cause poor air quality. Willow Creek, Hoopa Valley, Weaverville and surrounding areas have the potential to have degraded air quality in the afternoon. Depending upon your proximity to the fires, smoke concentrations could range from Unhealthy to even Hazardous. These conditions are problematic for those with health conditions. Smoke levels continue to be monitored. Please watch for updates.

People in these areas are recommended to restrict outdoor activity.

Symptoms that may be related to excess smoke exposure include:

 Repeated coughing

 Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

 Wheezing

 Chest tightness or pain

 Palpitations

 Nausea or unusual fatigue

 Lightheadedness

If you have any of the symptoms listed above, contact your health care provider.

Earlier story:

An unhealthy air conditions advisory was again issued on Tuesday for parts of Trinity and Humboldt counties — including Mad River, Ruth, Dinsmore, Bridgeville, Blocksburg and the Willow Creek and Hoopa areas — by the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District in response to smoky conditions from fires in surrounding areas.

According to a CalFire incident update, the over 70 Humboldt County lightning fires have burned 3,242 acres in and around southeast Humboldt and were 25 percent contained on Tuesday evening. According to a U.S. Forest Service fire update, around 30 fires have burned at least 35,594 acres and were at various levels of containment in the Six Rivers National Forest. The Humboldt Lightning Complex fires have claimed one residence and one other structure and one firefighter suffered a minor injury that required stitches, said CalFire public information officer Dan Merwin. In total 1,120 personnel, 85 fire engines and 7 helicopters responded to the fire, the incident update said.

Air quality is measured using monitors throughout the county and five mobile ones that test air for the amount of particulates. If the air tested has too many particulates then advisories are issued, said Heather Bitner, a North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District air pollution control officer assistant.

“It’s actually fairly common throughout the summer fire season,” she said.

Children, the elderly and those with preexisting respiratory illnesses in the areas mentioned in the air quality advisory are at the greatest risk of health hazards from the smoke.

Exposure-related symptoms include repeated coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea or unusual fatigue and light-headedness. Those already at-risk are advised to stay inside or limit their exposure to smoke, Bitner said. Prolonged exposure may lead to bronchitis and other chronic lung issues, she said.

Other than keeping doors and windows shut people are advised to go clean air centers or buildings that have good air filtration systems such as malls or other large structures if they need fresh air. As a last resort those suffering under smoke conditions are advised to leave the area until the air quality improves, Bitner said.

People closer to the coast and in cities have less to worry about, she said.

“The monitors are still reading in the good range for the majority of the populated areas in Humboldt County,” Bitner said. “You may see smoke or smell smoke … but our air quality in general is in the good range.”